HAND LUGGAGE WITH INTERCHANGEABLE DECORATIVE TRIM SYSTEM
An illustrative embodiment of a system for handbags, purses, clutches and other such hand luggage includes a plurality of interchangeable decorative trims that are releasably attachable to a coupling device. One or more coupling devices are attached along the circumference of and adjacent to the upper rim of the hand luggage. The interchangeable decorative trims each include one or more corresponding coupling devices. Each coupling device and corresponding coupling device pair can be, for example, a pair of magnets or a magnet and a ferromagnetic or paramagnetic element. The decorative accessories may be, for example, a ribbon, fringe, a scarf, or other trim having an aesthetic element.
This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 60/804,740, filed Jun. 14, 2006, and titled PURSE WITH REPLACEABLE FRINGE, which is incorporated herein by reference.
BACKGROUNDThe present invention relates to apparel accessories, and particularly, to a system of interchangeable decorative trims for hand luggage such as purses, handbags, and the like.
SUMMARYThe present invention may comprise one or more of the features recited in the attached claims, and/or one or more of the following features and combinations thereof. An illustrative embodiment of a system for handbags, purses, clutches and other such hand luggage includes a plurality of interchangeable decorative trims that are releasably attachable to a coupling device. One or more coupling devices are attached along the circumference of and adjacent to the upper rim of the handbag. The interchangeable decorative trims each include one or more corresponding coupling devices. Each coupling device and corresponding coupling device pair can be, for example, a pair of magnets or a magnet and a ferromagnetic or paramagnetic element. The decorative accessories may be, for example, a ribbon, fringe, a scarf, or other trim having an aesthetic element.
Additional features of the disclosure will become apparent to those skilled in the art upon consideration of the following detailed description of the illustrative embodiment.
The detailed description particularly refers to the accompanying figures in which:
For the purposes of promoting and understanding the principals of the invention, reference will now be made to one or more illustrative embodiments illustrated in the drawings and specific language will be used to describe the same.
The present invention comprises hand luggage 100, for example a purse, handbag, clutch, or the like, to which a decorative trim 101 maybe detachably affixed to the upper outer rim 102 defined around the opening 104 to the interior 106 of the hand luggage 100. It is contemplated that the user may maintain a variety of decorative trims 101 of different colors, styles, or other aesthetic attributes, for example, to match the particular clothing worn by the user. Thus, a particular trim may be selected and easily releasably coupled to the upper portion of the hand luggage 100, for example, around the rim 102, so that the overall appearance of the hand luggage 100 and the trim 101 combination matches the attire of the hand luggage user. In general, the hand luggage also includes an exterior surface 108, for example, comprised of fabric, leather, or faux leather/vinyl, and may also include a separate interior liner 106.
In the illustrative embodiment shown in
Additionally or alternatively, and as shown in
In one embodiment, the coupling devices 120 are position between the exterior surface 108 and the interior liner 106. The magnets are positioned so that the same magnetic polarity (e.g., either north or south) faces the exterior of the hand luggage 100 on both the front and back sides of the hand luggage 100. For coupling devices 120 and/or 130 comprising a magnet, the magnet can, for example, include neodymium (Nd—Fe—B) and have a nickel or other protective coating, or be another relatively thin, but strong magnet. A magnet with a Maximum Energy Product (BHmax or MGOe) of 20 MGOe or more may be suitable for hand luggage 100 and trim 101 of typical size and weight. For a combined magnet and magnetically attractable element applications, a magnet with a sufficient pull force to retain the trim 101 in position is used. The strength of the magnet uses for coupling devices 120 and/or 130 may vary depending on the trim weight, thickness of materials separating the coupling devices 120 and 130, and other related variables.
Optionally, and as shown in
Referring now to
Additionally or alternatively, and similarly to the illustrative embodiment in
Alternatively or additionally, adhesives 234 such as hot glue, GLUE DOTS (trademark of Ellsworth Adhesive Company), or other permanent adhesives can be used to attach the coupling devices 220 and 230 to the positioning layers 222 and 232, as is illustrated in
The combined coupling devices 220 and positioning layer 222 may be then affixed to the hand luggage 200 and combined coupling devices 230 and positioning layer 232 to the decorative trim 201. For example, positioning layer 222 and 232 can be glued or sewn to a portion of material forming the hand luggage 200 and decorative trim 201 respectively. For example, as shown in
Another illustrative embodiment of the invention shown in
Referring now to
In one illustrative embodiment of the invention, a system includes a plurality of decorative trims 501 according to the above disclosure and illustrated in
Referring to
One concern is ensuring that the coupling devices 230 associated with the decorative trim 201 line up with the coupling devices 220 associated with the hand luggage 200. A higher confidence of magnetic attraction may be obtained by utilizing coupling devices 220 associated with the hand luggage 200 which have a larger surface area than the coupling devices 230 associated with the trim 201, as illustrated in
As illustrated in
In an alternate embodiment, the coupling devices 220 associated with the hand luggage 200 may include a ferromagnetic or paramagnetic material, such as a metallic element or ferric surface or ferric strip. In such an embodiment, the coupling devices 230 associated with the decorative trim 201 include magnets of suitable strength to adhere the trim 201 to the hand luggage 200.
While the invention has been illustrated and described in detail in the foregoing drawings and description, the same is to be considered as illustrative and not restrictive in character, it being understood that only illustrative embodiments thereof have been shown and described and that all changes and modifications that come within the spirit and scope of the invention as defined in the following claims are desired to be protected. For example, aspects of one illustrative embodiment may also be incorporated with any of the other illustrative embodiments disclosed herein. For example, some or all of the features shown in and described for
Claims
1. An apparel accessory system, comprising:
- hand luggage having a rim, the circumference of which forms an opening to an interior of the hang luggage;
- a first coupling device positioned adjacent the rim;
- a plurality of interchangeable decorative trims; and
- a second coupling device associated with each of the plurality of interchangeable decorative trims, the second coupling devices adapted to releasably engage the first coupling device.
2. The system of claim 1, wherein at least one of the first and second coupling devices includes a magnet.
3. The system of claim 2, wherein at least one of the first and second coupling devices includes a magnet and the other of the first and second coupling devices includes an element responsive to and attractable to the magnet.
4. The system of claim 1, wherein:
- the first coupling device includes a magnet and a member having an element responsive to and attractable to the magnet;
- the member being approximately aligned with and positioned on top of the magnet;
- the member is located toward the interior of the hand luggage and the magnet toward an exterior of the hand luggage; and
- the member is at least sized to be overlying approximately a substantial portion of the magnet.
5. The system of claim 1, wherein:
- the hand luggage rim includes an interior layer and an exterior layer; and
- the first coupling device is located between the interior layer and the exterior layer.
6. The system of claim 1, wherein:
- each of the plurality of interchangeable decorative trims includes an outer layer having an aesthetic element and an inner layer; and
- the second coupling device is located between the outer layer and at least a portion of the inner layer.
7. The system of claim 1, wherein at least one of the first and second coupling devices is fastened to a flexible substrate extending along at least a length of at least one of the rim and the decorative trim.
8. The system of claim 1, further comprises a magnetic closure for the opening.
9. The system of claim 1, wherein the exterior diameter of the hand luggage increases distal the rim.
10. An apparel accessory system, comprising:
- hand luggage having a rim, the circumference of which forms an opening to an interior of the hang luggage;
- a plurality of elongate interchangeable decorative trims, each having first and second ends and adapted to wrap around the hand luggage rim; and
- first and second fastening devices, the first and second fastening devices releasably engageable and respectively associated with the first and seconds ends of the plurality of interchangeable decorative trims.
11. The system of claim 10, further comprising:
- a first coupling device positioned adjacent the rim; and
- a second coupling device associated with each of the plurality of interchangeable decorative trims, the second coupling devices adapted to releasably engage the first coupling device; and
- wherein at least one of the first and second coupling devices includes a magnet and the other of the first and second coupling devices includes an element responsive to and attractable to the magnet.
12. The system of claim 11, wherein:
- the first coupling device includes a magnet and a member having an element responsive to and attractable to the magnet;
- the member being approximately aligned with and positioned on top of the magnet;
- the member is located toward the interior of the hand luggage and the magnet toward an exterior of the hand luggage; and
- the member is at least sized to be overlying approximately a substantial portion of the magnet.
13. The system of claim 11, wherein:
- the hand luggage rim includes an interior layer and an exterior layer; and
- the first coupling device is located between the interior layer and the exterior layer.
14. The system of claim 11, wherein:
- each of the plurality of interchangeable decorative trims includes an outer layer having an aesthetic element and an inner layer; and
- the second coupling device is located between the outer layer and at least a portion of the inner layer.
15. The system of claim 11, further comprises a magnet closure for the opening and wherein the first coupling devices is associated with the magnet closure.
16. The system of claim 11, wherein the exterior diameter of the hand luggage increases distal the rim.
17. Hand luggage, comprising:
- a rim, the circumference of which forms an opening in the hand luggage; and
- a decorative trim adapted to be releasably attachable to the rim.
18. The hand luggage of claim 17, further comprising:
- a first coupling device associated with the rim;
- a second coupling device associated with the decorative trim; and
- the first and second coupling devices releasably engageable.
19. The hand luggage of claim 18, wherein at least one of the first and second coupling devices includes magnetic properties and the first and second coupling devices are adapted to be engageable with a magnet force.
20. The hand luggage of claim 18, further comprising a decorative wrap located along at least a portion of the outer circumference of the rim and between the first coupling device and the second coupling device.
Type: Application
Filed: Jun 13, 2007
Publication Date: Dec 20, 2007
Inventor: Carol Bond (Indianapolis, IN)
Application Number: 11/762,393
International Classification: A45C 3/08 (20060101); A45C 13/08 (20060101);